Winners’ and runners-up medals alongside the Série C trophyCredit: Rafael Ribeiro/CBF
Maringá’s Série C title win this Saturday (24) brought the final edition of the championship featuring 20 clubs to a close. In 2027, the competition will have 24 teams. From 2028, there will be 28 participants, ensuring broader national representation, a larger audience and a fuller schedule.
Maringá, Ferroviária, Santa Cruz and Inter de Limeira secured promotion to Série B for 2027. Six clubs earned promotion from Série D to Série C: ABC, ASA, Gama, Goiatuba, Nacional-AM and Uberlândia. Meanwhile, Itabaiana-SE and Confiança-SE were relegated.
Next season, the competition format (first stage, second stage and final) and the number of relegated teams (two) will remain unchanged. In 2028, the format will also change. Série C will feature two groups of 14 clubs each, playing home and away, with six teams relegated to Série D for 2029.
CBF Competitions Director Julio Avellar and Paraná Football Federation President Hélio Cury Filho present the 2026 Série C trophy to MaringáCredit: Rafael Ribeiro/CBF
In an interview with CBF TV, CBF Competitions Director Julio Avellar looked ahead to the competition’s upcoming seasons.
“I want to praise both legs of the final, which were very closely contested. Congratulations to Maringá and Ferroviária. This is the last time we will have this format in Série C. Next year, we will have 24 clubs, with an increase in the number of matches. Série C is growing, with changes announced by President Samir last year. And in 2028, there will be 28 clubs, with a change in format. The outlook is very positive for Série C to keep growing,” he said.
Paraná Football Federation President Hélio Cury Filho spoke of his delight at seeing Maringá join Operário, the 2018 winners, as Série C champions from Paraná. He also highlighted the strength of football outside the state capital.
Paraná Football Federation President Hélio Cury took part in the 2026 Série C awards ceremonyCredit: Rafael Ribeiro/CBF
“It brings us great joy. Maringá’s achievement confirms the quality of the work they have been doing. Football outside Paraná’s capital is very strong, and that has been demonstrated by Operário, now by Maringá, and by Londrina themselves, who finished as Série C runners-up last year. We are very happy with the work being done, particularly by our clubs outside the capital,” he said in celebration.
São Paulo Football Federation President Reinaldo Carneiro Bastos praised the turnout of 11,500 fans at Arena Luminosa and described Maringá’s 2–1 victory as a “fair” result. He also stressed to the four promoted clubs the importance of maintaining good management practices for Série B in 2027, which promises to be even more challenging.
“Série C is a tough competition, and it evolved over the course of this edition. Brazilian football in the lower divisions has been growing; clubs are becoming better organized, facing fewer financial difficulties and acting more responsibly. (...) I hope Maringá, Ferroviária, Inter (de Limeira) and Santa Cruz realize that they are now in a tougher and more complicated division. The most important thing is to carry forward everything they did right,” he emphasized.
São Paulo Football Federation President Reinaldo Carneiro Bastos took part in the 2026 Série C awards ceremonyCredit: Rafael Ribeiro/CBF
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.